ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington men's basketball (13-7, 6-5 GNAC) hosts Alaska Fairbanks (5-13, 3-7 GNAC) and Alaska Anchorage (15-6, 5-5 GNAC) this Thursday and Saturday in Nicholson Arena.

Saturday marks the team's Blackout Game. All fans are asked to WEAR BLACK. There will be 1,000 black Wildcat themed T-shirts courtesy of Shirtworks available at the arena's entrance prior to tip off.

QUOTING HEAD COACH BRANDON RINTA
"Both UAF and UAA are teams that play hard and can defend at a high level. These games are all starting to take on a playoff intensity as we get this deep into conference play."
 
GAME INFO
Thursday February 8^th
7:30 p.m.
Central Washington vs Alaska Fairbanks
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Washington
 
Saturday February 10^th
6:15 p.m.
Central Washington vs Alaska Anchorage
Nicholson Arena
Ellensburg, Washington
 
SCOUTING THE NANOOKS
Alaska Fairbanks is eighth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), two games behind Western Washington and a game ahead of Simon Fraser. The Nanooks picked up two big wins last week. They squeaked by Western Oregon 72-67 and then took it to crosstown rival Alaska Anchorage. Fairbanks beat Anchorage by 16, 65-49.
 
Mohamed Abdullahi had a great week for the Nanooks. He scored 17 points, hauled in eight rebounds, and had two blocks against Western Oregon. Abdullahi had a double-double In Saturday's win over Anchorage. He put up 19 points, grabbed ten boards, had two assists, and two blocks.
 
Demarcus Hall-Scriven competed hard last week, and it showed in the box score. Hall-Scriven scored 13 points in the Western Oregon game and backed that up with a double-double of his own on Saturday, scoring 14 points and ten rebounds.
 
Central Washington beat Alaska Faribanks 69-65 on the road in the first matchup between the teams this season. The overall matchup belongs to the 'Cats as they are 23-10 all-time against the Nanooks.
 
SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES
Alaska Anchorage is sixth in the GNAC, one game behind Seattle Pacific and a game above Western Washington. The Seawolves toppled Saint Martin's, the number one team in the nation, 71-68 last Thursday. Tyson Gilbert pioneered the upset scoring a career-high 28 points in the victory. Thursday's win didn't translate to Saturday as the Seawolves fell 65-49 to the Nanooks.
 
Dillon Barrientos scored 12 points and had four assists against Saint Martin's. Three other Seawolves scored eight points and Sawyer Storms secured a team-high seven rebounds.
 
This will be the second meeting this season between Alaska Anchorage and Central Washington. In the first meeting, Alaska Anchorage won 75-61. The Seawolves lead the all-time matchup with a 28-21 record and have won the past three contests.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington suffered a pair of road losses last week. The 'Cats fell 77-75 in a close one at Seattle Pacific, then traveled to Billings where MSUB got the upper hand winning 76-69. The crimson and black are now ranked fourth in the GNAC, a game behind Northwest Nazarene.
 
Samaad Hector and Anjaylo Lloyd led the way against Seattle Pacific, scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively. Maverick Sanders and Cavin Holden were active on the glass, hauling in five rebounds apiece. Camron McNeil hit timely shots down the stretch to give the 'Cats a chance to tie it at the end.
 
In the loss to Montana State Billings, Hector, and Lloyd both put up 14 points. Hector added 11 rebounds to secure his seventh double-double of the season. Bradley Swillie went 4-6 from the field, scored 9 points, and seven rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
Next week, Central Washington travels to Northwest Nazarene (11-8, 7-4 GNAC) and Simon Fraser (5-17, 3-8 GNAC) for two key GNAC matchups.